Shields, Peter J., 1862-1962

Biography

Peter J. Shields was born on April 4, 1862 in Hangtown Crossing, a small farming town near Sacramento, California. At the age of fourteen, Shields attended the Christian Brothers College in Sacramento and at seventeen he began to study law in Amos P. Catlin's law office. After being admitted to the Bar in Los Angeles in 1884, Shields established a small law office in Sacramento. At age twenty-three, he quit his law practice to travel. After ten years, he returned to Sacramento and started working as a library assistant at the California State Library. Later Shields was promoted to become one of the Trustees of the State Library. From 1896 to 1898, he worked for the Secretary of the California Code Commission and as a secretary in Governor Budd's office. In 1899, Shields was the secretary of the State Agricultural Society. Shields and Hiram Johnson shared an informal law partnership circa 1900. In 1900, Shields was elected as Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento. He married Carolee Wilsey on August 1, 1901. Shields sought the office of U.S. District Judge, in 1913, but did not get chosen for the office. Shields retired in 1949.

Shields was one of the founding fathers of the University Farm (now the University of California, Davis campus). As the secretary of the State Agricultural Society, he realized the need for an agricultural college. He helped to write the State legislation bill for the creation of the university campus in 1901 and 1903; after many revisions were added to the bill, it finally passed in 1905. He continued to share in the responsibilities of the university by keeping in contact with the the presidents of the university and participating in events related to the university until his death. Shields interests in politics and agriculture continued throughout his life. His award-winning Jersey cattle were his pride and joy. He often came to the Davis campus to visit the Jersey cattle until the campus decided to make reductions in the cattle program. Shields also actively participated in community organizations and events. His memberships included the X Club, whose members met in each other's houses and presented papers on a variety of topics. He often referred to the X Club as the "Ex Club" in his papers. Shields died on September 28, 1962.

Sources consulted:

Calendar of Shields' correspondence, control file, Peter J. Shields Collection, D-169, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

Shields, Peter J. Reminiscences: Tape recorded interviews for the Bancroft Library, December 30, 1953-July 1, 1954 . Transcript. [Berkeley: Bancroft Library, 1954].

Shields, Peter J. Birth of an Institution: the Agricultural College at Davis . [Sacramento, CA: 1954].

Storer, Tracy Irwin, Tracy I. Storer and E. Louis Proebsting: Reminiscences of the Ex [i.e. X] Club. [University of California, Davis: Library, 1973].

From the guide to the Peter J. Shields Collection, 1896-1968., (University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special Collections.)